Automatic blocking mechanism for strip-mills.



A. SUNDH.

AUTOMATIC BLOCKING MECHANISM FOR STRIP MILLS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, l9l6.

Patented Apr. 9, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I III BY@:;ENTOR A. SUNDH.

AUTOMATIC BLOCKING MECHANISM FOR STRIP MPLLS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1916- Patented Apr. 9, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTR Z: z s\/ BY %/;%M W I ATTORNEY ratus; Fig. 2 is an elevationview also partly V UNITED %TATE% PATENT @FFIQE.

AUGUST SUNDH, OF HASTINGS-UPON-HUDSON, NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC BLOCKING MECHANISM FOR STRIP-MILLS.

Application filed March 24, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUST SUNDH, a citizen of the United States,residing in Hastings-npon-Hudson, in the county of VVestchester andState of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement inAutomatic Blocking Mechanism for Strip- Mills, of which the following isa specifica- Egrounded circuits, which are so often a source of troubleby reason of the foundations for the machine becoming grounded, and alsogiving shocks to users of the machine. These and other advantages of thepresent apparatus will be more fully pointed out hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings wherein my apparatus is illustrated, Figure 1is a plan view partly in section of the whole appain section, andshowing the strip entering the block from the mill rolls; Fig. 3 is alongitudinal section through the block,

showing its interior structure; and Fig. 4

is an end view of the mill rolls showing the contact device whichcontrols the operating mechanism of the block.

In general my apparatus comprises a contact mechanism'normally held outof operative position b the mill rolls when a strip is not passingtlierebetween, but adapted to be actuated when a strip is passingbetween the mill rolls. This contact mechanism closes a circuit to arelay which in turn controls a valve which when operated admits fluid toa piston directly connected to the inside of the block, to expandclamping mechanism therein to attach the strip to the block. The relayor timing device is adjustable, and is entirely independent in itsoperation of the feeding movement of the strip, being actuated tooperative position so soon as the strip enters between the mill rolls.This'timing device isset so that it Specification of Letters Patent.

. Patented Apr. 9, i918.

Serial No. 86,328. v

will have functionedto cause the clamping mechanism inside of the blockto expand as soon as the strip has entered the block.

The block, that is to say the member on which the strip is wound,comprises an outer cylindrical, sectional casing 1, the sections of thiscasing being hinged together so as to permit of the casing collapsing,so that the strip, after it has been blocked, may be easily removedtherefrom. A hollow shaft 2 is carried within the casing 1 and extendsthe entire length of the block and rearwardly, as viewed in Fig. 1,through bearings 3, gear at, and bearings 5. Secured to this shaft 2 atits forward end is a member 6, which carries the collapsible members 7,which form means for gripping the strip to be blocked. These members 7are pivoted to the member 6 at one end, toggles 8 supporting the otherend. These toggles are secured to a rod 9 extending rearwardly throughthe hollow shaft 2, to ag'piston 10 in a cylinder 11 carried on thehjollow shaft 2 and rotatable therewith. It will be seen from thedescription thus far given, that movement of the rod 9 to the right, asviewed in Figs. 1 and 3, will cause the toggles 8 to be straightened outand the inside members 7 of the block forced outwardly to grip the stripbetween them and the inside of the outside casing 1. An opening 12 isprovided between two of the sections of the casing 1 for the receptionof the end of the strip as it reaches the block. A hand wheel 13 isprovided, secured to the casing 1 of the block, to rotate the same sothat the opening 12 may be in alinement with the end of the strip as itreaches the block. A small compression spring 14 is provided as shown inFig. 3 to bear on the outside of the casing 1 to hold the same in placeafter the opening 12 has once'been rotated into proper position asheretofore described. The hollow shaft 2 is rotated, constantly ifdesired, by means of an electric motor M and gears 4 and 15, and as thishollow shaft carries the inner mechanism of the block it will be seenthat this mechanism rotates also.

I will now describe the mechanism Which controls the expanding of theinner mechanism of the block. In rolling mills of the type used inconjunction with strip blocking mechanism, the upper roll, in thisinstance designated 16, lifts slightly, and I utilize this feature ofthe millrolls to operate my contact mechanism which controls theexpanding mechanism of the block. A support 17 is secured to one end ofthe rolling mill. Pivoted on this support at 18, is a contact arm 19,.carrying a contact 20 at one end, its other end carrying a member 21,

moved into engagement with a stationary contact 23 carried on thesupport 17. I have shownin Fig. 4 the end of the member, 21 which entersbetween-the mill rolls beveled I slightly, so that after the strip haspassed through the rolling mill, the upper roll. in settling back to itsnormal position will force the member 21 out from between the rolls toopen the contacts 20 and 23. The contacts 20 and 23 control a circuit ofa winding 24 of an electromagnet E, this winding receiving its powerfromany suitable source of supply. I have shown the armature of theelectromagnet E working within a' dashpot D, the action .of this dashpotbeing adjustable by means of a slotted screw 26"which enters the lowerend of the dashpot chamber 27. This armature, designated 25, actuates anarm 28, pivoted at one end at 29, and carrying on its other'end acontact '30. Pins-31 in the armature, one on each side of the arm 28will cause the armature when raised to actuate the arm 28, tobring thecontact 30 intoengageinent with a stationary contact .31. As thearmature 25 has to work .againstthe action of the may be varied by meansof the screw 26,

, itwill be seen that the time Within which A this core forming valvemechanism.

the contact 30 will engage the contact 31,

' after winding 24 is energized may be varied to suit varyingconditions. Closing of thecontacts 30, 31, closes a circuit for awinding J 32 of an electromagnet 33, in the present instance derivingits powerfrom the same source of supply as the electromagnet 24. ZEnergization of the winding 32 raises the core 34 of the. magnet 33,-the lower end of 35 designates a supply pipe for conveying fluid underpressure from any suitable source of supply, this fluid being permitted,when the armature 34cv is in raised position to flow down by or throughthe armature, through a pipe 36 to the inside of the chamber 11, whichas before pointed out is rotatable with the hollow shaft 2, to force thepiston 10 to the right as viewed in lgig. 1.

A spring 37 is provided on the opposite side of the piston 10 from whichthe fluid enters the chamber 11, to force the piston back to the left,and to force the fluid within the chamher out up through the pipe 36 andby adischarge pipe 38 to the outside again, when the electromagnet 33has been denergized,

and its core dropped. v A cycle of operation of" the apparatus described is as follows: As thestrip S enters between the upper roll 16and the lower roll 2 I of the rolling mill, the roll 16 is slightlyraised, and the arm 19,,actuated by the spring 22 will close thecontacts 20 and 23,

the member 21 at the 'same time entering between the mill rolls; Closingof these contacts will close a circuit to thewinding 2 1 of theelectromagnet E, which will then draw upits armature 25. By reason ofthe pin connection of this armature 25 with the contactarm 28, thelatter-will be raised to.

close the contacts 30 and 31, to close a circuit to the winding 32 ofthe electromagnet 33. *This magnet in turn will raise its armature34: toopen the va-lveadmitting fluid to the pipe 36 and from thence tothech'amber 11, on the left side of the piston 10.

strip,S,which by this time has reached the block and its end entered tothe inside of the block through the opening 12, will be gripped betweenthe inside members ofethe block and the inside of the outside casing 1of the block, and as the innermechanism of the block is rotating at thistime, it will be seen that at this instant the whole block will start tbrotate, and the strip be wound around the periphery of the block. Whenthe strip has traveled far enough that its end rides out from betweenthe mill rolls,

.ies

the upper roll will settle back .into place, 0

force the member 21 out from between the rolls, which will actuate thearm 19 to open the contacts 20, and '23. Opening ofthese contacts breaksthe circuit to the winding 24- of the electromagnet E, its "armaturewill drop back, and carry with it the arm carrying the contact 3'O,which will open the circuit for the electromagnet-33; This magnet inturn will drop its core, its winding now being dead, which willshut offthe fluid from the supply pipe 35v and openithe port of the dischargepipe 38. The spring 37 Withinthe casing 11 will new force the piston 1(1to the left, the fluid back of the piston being free to be forced outthrough the discharge pipe 38. 'This movement of the piston 10 to theleft will cause the rod 9 to be carried to the left also, to collapsethe inside of the block, and the outside-casing 1 of the block, byreason of its sections being hinged together will also be free tocollapse and the roll of metal may easily be removed. p v

v reach the block sooner I prefer to employ some incompressible fluidsuch as water or oil. for operating the strip-attaching mechanism of theblock, for the reason that a great tension is exerted on the block whenthe strip is being blocked, and the block would possibly be collapsedslightly if the fluid holding it expanded were not incompressible. andif it did collapse the strip would be buckled and destroyed. 'ith thisarrangement and using an incompressible fluid. strips of varyingthickness may be blocked without adjusting the machine each time.

The advantage of having the throw of the armature of the electromagnet Eadjustable, is now obvious. as should one strip be fed faster than thepreceding strips. it is merely necessary to shorten the throw of thisarmature. by adjusting the screw 26, to cause the electromagnet'sarmature to have to be moved a shorter distance than before. beforeclosing the contacts 30 and 31. The eflect of this. of course is topermitthe inner-mechanism of the block to be expanded sooner thanbefore. which will be necessary as the strip in this instance is beingfed faster than the preceding strips, and consequently will than theother strips did. Another advantage of this adj ustment. is that thethrow of the electromagnet may be adjusted to an exact nicety so thatthe strip may he allowed toenter the inside of the block only to adesired amount before being clamped.

another feature of advantage in my ar rangement is that the means forexpanding the inner mechanism of the. block and the block itself are inalinement. so that no complicated lever systems have to be used orthrust bearings. and as the power acts on one end of a shaft and theexpanding mechanism is on the other end. a rigid connection is thusprovided between the two. so that the two though separated are directlyconnected to each other.

I wish not to be limited to the precise construction and details ofparts herein disclosed. as others skilled in this art mightmake variouschanges therein without departing from the spirit-and scope of theinvention.

What I claim and desire to'secure by Letters-Patent of the Ynited Statesis 1. In blocking mechanism adapted to wind at strip fed from a stripmill. the combination of a rotatable block. means for clamping the stripto the block. fluid pressure means for operating said clamping means andmeans operating by bodily movement of the mill rolls for automaticallycontrolling said fluid pressure means.

'2. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind at strip fed from a stripmill. the combination of a rotatable block. means for clamping the stripto the block, fluid pressure means for operating said clamping means,and electrical means controlled by the strip for controlling said fluidpressure means.

3. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip fed from a stripmill, the combination of a rotatable block, means for clamping the stripto the block, fluid pressure means for operating said clamping means.and automatic electrically controlled means controlled by the strip forcontrolling said fluid pressure means.

4. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip fed from a stripmill, the combination of a rotatable block, mechanism for clamping thestrip to the block, and a rotatable fluid pressure device rotatable withthe block for operating said block clamping mechanism.

5. In ablocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip fed from a strip mill.the combination of a rotatable hollow shaft. a block on one end of saidshaft. mechanism in said block for clamping the strip to the block, arotatable fluid pressure device on the other end of the hollow shaft.and means connecting said fluid pressure device with the clampingmechanism of the block through said hollow shaft.

6. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a stri fed from a strip mill.the combination of a rotatable block. expansible strip-attachingmechanismwithin saidblock. a fluid pressure device for expanding saidstrip-attaching mechanism, and electric automatically controlled meanscontrolled byv the strip for controlling said fluid pressure de-. vice.

T. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip fed from a stripmill. the com bination of a rotatable block. expansible mechanism within.the block for attaching the strip to the block, a fluid pressurecylinder rotatable with the block and adapted to control said expansiblemechanism. and means for carrying fluid pressure to and from saidcylinder when rotating.

S. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip fed from a stripmill. the combination of a rotatable block. means for clamping the stripto the block. fluid pressure means for operating said clamping means.said fluid pressure means comprising a cylinder and a pistonv and avalve for admitting fluid pressure to and from said cy inder. and anelectroresponsive device controlled by the strip for controlling saidvalve.

9. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip fed from a stripmill. the combination of a rotatable block and a rotatable.

fluid pressure cylinder. a piston in said cylinder. means to connectsaid block and said piston. and means to admit fluid to the cylinder tocontrol the block while the block is rotating.

10. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip fed from a stripmill, the combination of-a rotatable block, fluid pressure means foroperating said block, and a de- 5 vice operating as the strip enters thestrip mill rolls for'automatically operatingsaid fluid pressure means.

11. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip fed 'from a stripmill, the combination of a rotatable block, fluid pressure means foroperating said block, and a device controlled by bodily movement of aroll of the strip mill independent of rotation of said roll forcontrolling the operation of said fluid pressure means. 12. In ablocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip fed from a strip mill, thecombination of a rotatable block, a fluid pressure device for operatingsaid block, an electic-magnetically operated valve for controlling thefluid pressure, and means to automatically control saidelectro-magnetically controlled valve in proportion to the feedingmovement of the strip, and thereby cause the strip to be attached to theblock when it r reaches the block.

13. In a blocking mechanism adapted to Wind a strip fed from a stripmill, the combination of a rotatable block, fluid pressure means foroperating said block, and an electroresponsive device controlled by anautomatically controlled circuit for controllin said fluid pressure. I a

14:. In a blockingmechanism adapted to wind a strip fed from a stripmill, the combination of a rotatable block, mechanism in the block forclamping the strip to the block, a fluid pressure cylinder, a piston, insaid cylinder, mechanism connecting-said piston admitting fluid to andfrom said cylinder, an electroresponsive device for "controlling said(valve, a circuit for said ele'ctroresponsive'device, said circuit beingcontrolled in proportion to the feeding movement of the strip, wherebythe strip will be clamped to the block through theintermediateelectrorespon'sive device and fluid pressure means when the stripreaches the block.

15. In a blocking mechanism adapted to Wind a strip fed from a stripmill, the combination of a rotatable block, fluid pressure means foroperating said block, an electrically controlled valve, an adjustabletiming device working in proportion to the feeding movement of the stripto control the fluid and cause the fluid pressure means to operate theblock and clamp the strip at a predetermined moment.

16. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip fed from a stripmill, the combination of a'rotatable block, an electric circuitcontrolled by the mill rolls and when the strip goes through the mill, atiming de- '65 vice in said circuit and controlled thereby,

and the clamping mechanism, a valve for the timing device beingadjustable, and means controlled by said timing device. adaptedtooperate the block to clamp the strip to the block at a predeterminedmoment.

17. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip fed from a stripmill, the combination of a. rotatable block, clamping means embodied inthe block, an electric cir- J cuit closed by the action of the millrolls when the strip is sent through the mill, an adjustable timingelement controlled by said circuit operating in proportion to thefeeding movement of the strip, to cause the clamping'ineans to clamp thestrip to the block at a predetermined instant.

18. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip fed from a stripmill, the combination of a rotatable block, clamping means embodiedWithin the block, means to operate said. clamping means, means forcontrolling the said clamp operating means, a circuit thereforcontrolled by the mill rolls when the strip is sent through the mill, tocause the strip to be clamped at a at predetermined moment.

19. In blocking mechanlsm adapted towind a strip fed from a strip mill,the combination of a rotatable block, a clamping mechanism embodied insaid block, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, connections betweensaid piston and the block clamping mechanism,

said piston adapted to be controlled by non compressible fluid pressure,and automatic means controlled by the strip for controlling thispressure.

20. In a'blockmg mechanism adaptedto wind a strip fed from a strip mill,the combination of a rotatable block, a clamping mechanism embodiedwithin the block, said clamping mechanism being sectional, .togglesconnecting the sections of said clamping mechanism, a cylinder, a pistonin said cylinder, means for connecting the toggles andsaid cylinder, andfluid pressure means for '11@ actuating said piston to actuate thetoggles to operate the clamping mechanism.

21. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip fed from astrip'mill, the combinationof a rotatable block, a clamping 11% mechanismembodied within said block and operated with toggles, a cylinder, apiston in said cylinder, means connecting the piston and the saidtoggles, and non-compressible fluid pressure adapted for actuating 126said piston to hold the toggles in position to L clamp the strip tothevblock.

22. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip fedfrom a stripmill, the combination of a rotatable block, clamping 12$ mechanismembodied in'said block and operated with toggles, a cylinder, a pistonin said cylinder. mechanism connecting the piston and toggles,non-compressible fluid pressure means adapted to actuate said piston to13c bination of a rotatable block, a mechanism embodied in the block andadapted to be expanded to clamp the strip to the block, and adapted alsoto be collapsed to leave the strip free on the block, non-compressible.

fluid pressure means for actuating said mechanism, and automaticallyelectrically controlled means controlled by the strip for controllingsaid non-compressible fluid pressure means. 24. In a blocking mechanismadapted to wind a strip fed from a strip mill, the combination of arotatable block, means embodied within the block for causing the stripto be attached to the block when the same reaches thc'block, and anelectric circuit controlled by bodily movement of the mill rollsautomatically closed at the instant the strip is sent through the millsfor controlling said means.

25. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip fed from a stripmill, the combination of a rotatable block, means embodied within theblock for causing the strip to be clamped to the block, said means beingautomatically controlled by the bodily movement of the mill rolls whenthe stripis sent through the mill,

26. In a blocking mechanism adapted to, wind a strip fed from a stripmill, the combination of a rotatable block, means embodied within theblock for causing the strip to be clamped to the block, a timing elementmeans controlled by the bodily movement of the mill rolls when the stripis sent through the mill to control the timing element, to control themeans embodied in the block and clamp the strip to the block when itreaches theblock. I

27. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip fed from a stripmill, the combination of a rotatable block, means embodied in thBblOCkfor causing the strip to be clamped to the block, a mechanical deviceoperated by the spreading apart of the mill rolls when the strip is sentthrough the mill, an electric circuit controlled by said mechanicaldevice, and .means controlled by said electric circuit for causing themeans embodied within the block to function to clamp the strip to theblock when it reaches the block. 1

28'. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip fed from a stripmill, the combination of a rotatable block, means embodied within theblockfor causing the strip to be clamped to the block, a device actuatedis sent through the mill, an electric contact embodied in said device,an electric circuit controlled thereby, a timing device in said circuit,a dashpot for timing said operation, an electric circuit controlled bysaid timing device, and means in said circuit for causing the meanswithin the block to clamp the strip to the block when it enters theblock.

29. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind. a strip coming from a stripmill, the combination of a rotatable block, means for clamping the stripto the block, and means independent of the position of the striprelative to the block, but dependent upon bodily movement'of the millrolls, for controlling the clamping means. I

30; In a strip mill, the combination of mill rolls for rolling a strip,blocking mechanism for the strip, comprising a rotatable block on whichthe strip is adapted to be wound, and a device operated by the millrolls to cause the strip to be attached to the block at a predeterminedinstant.

31. In a strip mill, the combination of rolls for rolling a strip,blocking mechanism for the strip comprising a rotatable block, on whichthe strip is adapted to be wound, and a device operated by the millrolls and controlling the block to attach the strip to the block at apredetermined instant.

32. In a strip mill, the combination of rolls for rolling a strip,blocking mechanism comprising a rotatable block, on which the strip iswound, guiding means for the strip between the mill rolls and the block,and a device operated by the mill rolls and adapted to control the blockto cause the strip to be attached to the block at a predeterminedinstant.

33. In a strip mill, the combination of rolls for rolling a strip, ablocking mechanism embodying a rotatable block, on which the strip isadapted to be wound, a device operated by the mill rolls as the stripenters the mill rolls, and timed with the feeding movement of the stripto'cause the strip to be attached to the block when it enters the block.

34. In a blocking device adapted to wind a strip coming from a stripmill, the combination of a device operated by the strip mill comprisinga timing mechanism adapted to be set to correspond with the feedingmovement of the strip, and means operated by said mechanism to cause thestrip to be attached to the block when it reaches the block.

35. In a blocking device adapted to wind a strip coming from a stripmill, the combination of a rotatable block, means to oper-v ate saidblock to attach the strip to the block, a device operated by the stripmill, embodying a timing mechanism adapted to be set i0 correspond inoperation with the feeding movement of the strip, and means control- Iling said first named means and operated by said timmg mechanism tocause the strip to be attached to the 'block when the strip reaches the,block.

36. In combination a rolling mill, a block for blocking metal fed fromthe rolling mill, and adjustable means controlled by the rolls of therolling mill for attaching the strip to the block. A

37. In combination a rolling mill, a block forblocking stripmetal fedfrom the rolling mill, and means controlled by the rolls oi the'rollingmill for attaching the strip to the block.

l the rolls of the rolling. mill for attaching the I 38. In combination,a rolling mill, a block for blocking strip metal fed from the rollingmill,-and means controlled momentarily by strip'to the block. a

39. In combination, a rolling mill, a block L for blocking strip metalfed from the rolling mill, and means actuated by the entry of the stripinto the rolls of the rolling mill to attach the'strip to the block.

40. In a strip mill, the combination of the mill rolls, and a circuitcontrolled thereby for controlling said first named circuits.

41. In a strip mill, the combination of cuits for said means, contactsoperated by rolls for rolling a strip, blocking mechanism embodying arotatable block on which-the strip is adapted to be wound, a deviceoperable by. the entry of the strip between the rolls of the stripmill,-and means to attach the strip to the block and controlled by saiddevice.

In testimony whereof I'have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses. I

AUGUST SUNDH.

Witnesses:

WALTER G. STnANG, ERNEST L. GALE, Jr.

